The role of social media platforms in shaping climate change discourse

Social media platforms have become central to public discourse, including discussions about critical issues like climate change. The growing presence of misinformation on these platforms poses a significant challenge as exposure to it within polarized and politicized discourse reduces support for mitigation policies and entrenches climate skepticism. While climate misinformation is pervasive on social media platforms, the primary risk lies not necessarily in its scale but also in how it is disseminated and how certain users are algorithmically exposed to it. Previous studies have shown that recommendation algorithms can amplify climate misinformation, potentially radicalizing already skeptical user.

Grounded in the theoretical premise of platform power, reflected in the ability of platforms to structure user behavior and shape communication dynamics through content governance, this dissertation examines how platform designs and governance strategies mediate the visibility and diversity of climate change discussions. Empirically, the project explores content governance mechanisms related to climate content to understand their practical impact on public discourse. Theoretically, it investigates the role of technology in shaping the discourse, focusing on how platforms exercise political power through their governance.